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Opinion
While the postscript to the APL’s decision to sell off the rights to the A-League Men grand final to Sydney for the following three years has been damaging, one positive could be about to emerge.
As authorities continue their search for the last remaining thugs who invaded the pitch during the Melbourne Derby on December 17, a group of frustrated and passionate fans feeling as though they have finally reached the end of their tether have come together to form a new body.
Football Supporters Association Australia’s core objective is to provide a clear, well-articulated and measured voice in the domestic game, not only in reference to the A-League competitions, but also in relation to NPL and grassroots play right around the country.
While operating as a working group in its early stages, the intention is for FSAA to become a conduit between Australian fans, active supporter groups and football’s governing bodies.
The most common complaint around APL’s grand final decision was a distinct lack of consultation with fans and who knows whether the governing body was stunned by the reaction when the details were sprung on fans in the week leading into the now infamous derby.
Subsequent exploration of the odd means by which the decision was agreed upon – with a handful of club representatives sitting on a board, rather than having all 12 clubs involved – cemented the distrust among fans.
There was a certain murkiness around the process undertaken and the agendas of those given voting rights perceived as having informed the decision to their own benefit.
After decades of concern when it comes to the governance of and decision making within football in Australia, the grand final call felt like the last straw for many fans. Some walked away instantly, others temporarily and – despite the football being played on the pitch being of outstanding quality across the opening weeks of 2023 – the trickle back has been noticeable.
(Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
Other supporter groups have formed previously, all attempting to build followings significant enough to be listened to and considered when it came to key decisions. Sadly, there has been little success and something of a forlorn resignation from many potential members that the time and energy invested in such causes is simply not worth the limited or non-existent outcomes.
Now, with the clubs in control of the A-Leagues in a hands-on way for the first time, and their decisions potentially driven by self-interest and short term survival, a fan voice designed to call out questionable governance and the motivations behind moves that alienate fans has never been more important.
The new body was born of initial casual conversations between fans across the nation, with Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth-based voices involved, and apologies also accepted from people in other states and territories.
As the conversations developed further, it was clear that a desire for an organised, professional and representative fan voice existed, with a specific intention to represent all football fans in Australia.
That advocacy will be aiming to embrace fan issues, the state of the domestic game in all its forms, governance and structure.
While FSAA will support the meetings held between active fan groups and the APL that are set to take place in the coming days and weeks, there is also an intention to build a voice far more convincing and sustainable, with the lip service often paid to fans by the powers that be no longer acceptable.
That accountability fuelled the mass walkouts in the aftermath of the grand final decision, which the APL has still failed to effectively explain the reasons behind, aside from the obvious cash grab undertaken.
Despite being just weeks into its existence, the body’s website is up and running, with the opportunity existing to register and contact them directly with questions, concerns or queries. There is an initial press release to read and the details required to join and become an email subscriber.
Knowing the integrity of the people behind the endeavour, I will be engaging with them, hopeful that something positive and meaningful does emerge from their passion.
While understanding the challenges associated with governing a domestic game as considerable as football, the reality is that fans have rarely been listened to, in direct contrast to the power they hold in other Australian codes.
The FSAA hopes to be a means to correct that imbalance.